Chapter 1: The Tournament

Where and when it all began...

Gustav's POV

"Welcome, brothers, sisters, and warriors from around the world," the commentator announced from the blaring speakers in the large concentric stadium. "Today marks the fifth anniversary of the Crescent pack Indomitable Challenge. The king bids me welcome our brothers from the Grey Moon pack, who are joining us for the first time."

A loud wave of cheer and applause followed the commentator's welcome address.

"As you all know, there are three challenges to the competition. The first to keep us in the mood is the flag-finding challenge. Seven teams consisting of four werewolves each will be competing to find four flags hidden in brown wooden boxes in the maze before them. The first four teams to find a flag and bring it to the tower at the end of the maze will qualify for the next round.

Another round of hooting and cheering thronged the electrified spectators at the large stadium, rushing the blood in my veins. The Indomitable Challenge brought men from all walks of life to the stadium. It was that time of the year when the rich staked heavy amount of money on their favorite teams, fixing an eye on the scoreboard, and their hopes in their choice teams.

Being the youngest member of Team Seven, it was normal of me to have a thumping pulse; going by what father had said. As the heir to the throne, it was only necessary of me to prove to the pack that I was worthy of the claim.

"But I must warn you warriors, there'll be booby traps scattered around the maze to claim your life, or dismember a limb. The crazy part is that finding the flag first doesn't give you automatic qualification to the next stage, until you bring it to the tower at the end of the maze. Expect attacks from other teams, if you have the flag."

"I can do this. I can do this," I said to myself, breathing warm air into my palms, and rubbing them together. The deathly expression on the faces of fellow contenders from other teams constricted my lungs. This was going to be a hard one, but I was more determined to prove myself to father and my pack.

"Will the reigning champions, hold on to their championship this year? Or will their belt be taken away from them? I guess Team Two will want to hold on to the former than the latter, am I right?"

A brisk confident burly man from Team Two with a brown eye patch covering his left eye raised his large muscular arms in the air. The spectators went agog, showering their admiration for him. Suddenly, his fierce gaze settled on mine, petrifying me to the spot. It was as though he suddenly found me interesting to engage in a staring contest. He looked like a man who could kill a dragon with his bare hands.

"Are you ready for an awesome experience?" A loud yes followed from the giddy spectators choked the air. "At the boom of the gun, find your flag, and save your team. May the Moon be in your favor."

I stood poised, awaiting the sound of the gun, my heart skittering. I sighted father above me, sitting beside King Fredrick on a gold rimmed padded chair under a shaded platform prepared specially for dignitaries. He nodded once, placing a fist on his chest. I got the message immediately. "You can do it. I believe in you."

I returned my attention to the tall maze with renewed energy, courtesy of father. Almost immediately, a loud boom from the referee's pistol rent the air, and every team charged into the maze. Sprinting into the maze with my team, we branched into various parts of the maze. The goal was to find the flag and bring it to the tower, and finding it separately was the best tactic we could think of. I followed my instincts, searching through every corner possible, but there was no sign of he flag.

A piercing scream came from an angle in the maze. Something must have got someone, I thought, quickening my search. I sighted a box with a lid, and my hope soared. I ran to it, tearing it open. But on the contrary, a large cobra hissed out of the box, spreading its black shinny hood over me.

I darted into a corner, running for my dear life. The snake trailed after me, aiming for my heels. As luck would run out on me, I veered into a dead end with no where to turn. The walls of the maze were sixteen feet tall- too tall for an adult, let alone an eighteen year-old. When the snake saw I was cornered, it lifted its body in full flare, slithering over me.

Lunch to a famished cobra. What could possibly go wrong?

Just when it was about to swallow me for good, a shiny sword was hurled through the air at me by God knows who. I leaped at it, avoiding the cobra's strike, and rolling on the floor with the sword in hand. Before the cobra could recoil to confront me, I decapitated it, splattering its blood around the wall

I turned back to find who threw me the sword, but found none. Whoever he was, I owed him my life.

"Team Two has done it again. They've brought back the first flag." The commentator announced. The excited crowd cheered on, drumming and chanting their praise.

With the sword in hand, I fereted the maze for a sliver of hope, sweating profusely. I heard another wail from the right wing of the maze, then another from the other side of the wall. I couldn't unhear the squelching sound of flesh that greeted my teenage ears. On entering a corner, I stepped on a tile which opened a slot on the wall beside me. A number of arrows darted out of the slot, but I was quick to slide under them unscathed.

"Congratulations to Team Five, they have found the second flag." The spectators cheered aloud, creating a Mexican wave.

I don't need a witch to tell me father would be shifting on his seat by now. I got up, and found another box sitting beside a wall. My heart skipped a yard. The fear of finding what doesn't count for a flag tightened my chest. I took measured steps to the box, opening it with the end of the sword. A flag lay gracefully in the box.

Overjoyed, I reached for it, holding it as though my life depended on it. To be frank, my life depended on it. Running through the maze with the corrugated roof of the tall tower ahead me, I could only imagine what if would feel like, submitting the flag to the collector, and getting a 'good job' nod from father.

From my blind spot, an incoming kick swung at my head, hitting it roughly against the wall. A girl around my age bent over me, and yanked the flag out of my hand. "No hard feelings, love. It's a competition." Before I could regain my composure, she spirited away, leaving me with a throbbing ache to nurse. In a couple of minutes, the commentator announced the arrival of Team One at the tower.

Fuck! Only a flag to go.

Struggling to my feet, Blood, my wolf, patched me up, healing me of the ache. I searched through the maze, panting and afraid of failure.

"Team Seven has brought the last flag to the tower!" The commentator announced. I sank to the ground, my heart leaping for joy. For a while, I had forgotten I had team mates.

I trudged out of the maze with the dried splotches of cobra blood on my face and clothe, and a sword in hand. I joined my team at the collection point. One of us was missing, reducing our number to three. The missing piece must have added to the list of casualties.

Behind my team, I saw the girl who robbed me of my flag, laughing with her team members. Black hair, and a bold look on her heart-shaped face; she was daring for a girl in her teens. "You almost killed me there," I went to her, fuming with rage.

"Who did you think gave you the sword?" A cocky smirk tugged at the end of her lip. I was speechless, but still angry at her. "You should be grateful I didn't leave you for dead." She patted me on the shoulder, join her team members in their shitty chat.

"And now, the second round of the tournament is the Surrender Combat. Each team will chose a representative to fight in the murky muddy arena. The warrior who surrenders to his opponent will concede his victory to him."

"The first match will be between Team Two and Team Five." The crowd cheered, while I closed my eyes in appreciation to the Moon. I knew the one-eyed man from Team Two would be representing his team, which was a sure win for the team. I was more than happy that my team wasn't paired with him. It'd have been a sure loss for us.

The fight between both teams was quick. His opponent was no match for him, which gave him a hasty victory. He roared to the spectators, beating his chest like a conquering silverback. The happy spectators responded with a ringing cheer, chanting his name joyfully.

I volunteered to fight for my team, when I saw the strange girl do the same for her team. I must settle the score with her once and for all.

We got into the arena, rounding each other up with glowing eyes, and lengthened canines. "I'll be gentle on you, love. I don't want to break your hairy balls down there," she teased.

I scoffed "It's never too late to surrender. I'm asking you as a gentleman with manners. Take the chance and return to your pack with a complete set of bones."

I swung a punch at her, but she ducked, turning swiftly behind me. "You should be the one to surrender, because you strike like a girl. I expected more from you, Gustav Leo.

I don't even know her name. How did she know mine?

Her confidence irated me, and I was hell bent on teaching her a lesson she would never forget. I charged at her with multiple kicks targeted at her jaws and abdomen, but she skillfully blocked my strikes, guiding her face with an arm shield, and tapping down on my shin to protect her trunk

"Why don't you fight me?" I snarled, exhaling deeply.

"You asked for it." She extended her claws, a sly smug lighting her face. She charged her claws at my face, but I shielded the strike with my arm. It was a diversion, because I didn't see the rising knee aimed at my upper abdomen. Her knee disjointed my midriff, which was followed by a sharp uppercut under my lower jaw. My body lost momentum, as I fell backward, crashing into the murky puddle.

The crowd cheered on for her, and I felt humiliated. I struggled to my feet, spitting out blood. "That was impressive. I give it to you."

"Thank you." She bowed.

Before she straightened up, I seized the opportunity to land her a surprise attack. I leaped at her, rolling into the mud with her. "Gotcha!" I grinned, pinning her down with my hand on her windpipe, drenched in mud. "Surrender, and I'll show you mercy."

"Why is your hand on my breast? You like what you feel? It's soft, right?" She waggled her eye brow, winking at me.

"What?! No!" I withdrew my hand from her throat in a haste, afraid of molesting her.

"Gotcha!" She punched me in the jaw, went under my arm, and smacked my face into the mud. I winced in pain, angry at myself for falling for her cheap trick. She rolled over my back, and curled my legs backward, straining my waist. I tapped and cursed, but the pain on my waist was unbearable.

"Say you surrender." She urged.

"Never!"

She bent my legs backward, farther than they could go, till I heard something snap. The pain was too excruciating to bear, that I did what I feared to do. "I surrender! I surrender!" I screamed, slapping the murky water rapidly.

"Give it up for Team One." The commentator announced, and the crowd cheered along.

I couldn't feel my waist again. I felt numb from my waist downward. "You cheating piece of shitty! What other lie and deceit are you capable of?!" I tore my gaze away from her, seething in anger. "I don't have the eye to look father in the face. My pack won't respect me anymore."

"Stand up and get a hold on yourself." She helped me up, wounding my arm over her shoulder for support.

"This doesn't count for cheating your way through to victory. I'll never forget this." I swore to her, hobbling out of the arena.

"I'll do it again if I have the chance. Like I said, it's a competition. Everyone here will do anything to win."

Suddenly, a loud shriek coming from the shaded space for dignitaries tore through the crowd. The queen of the Crescent pack dropped dead to the floor, with her son, Ludovic, crying over her.

***

Author's note: Hello beautiful reader, this story contains lots of cringy graphical contents ranging from bloodshed to torture and fiery sex. This is my first book, and I'll love to read your comments and reviews on it. Don't forget to gift a gem as a token of encouragement. XOXO : )